I haven't been writing nearly as much as I thought I would on this trip, however I have been gathering some really good poem-bits for future work:
There is more oxygen here in this wild west coast of Vancouver Island.
The Western Red Cedar is known by local Nuu-cha-nulth First Nations as the Tree of Life. Some of these ancient monarchs are 800-1000 years old. One specific tree was noted to have been a sapling when Marco Polo was living on the earth. Captain Cook stopped by to cut a replacement mast for one of his ships. (note to self: must read more about Captain Cook.)
Xavier is sure there are Ewoks around these forest boardwalks.
There are 100 different type of epiphytes living in these treetops.
hishuk ish ts'a walk = "everything is one and all is interconnected."
The First Nations have a settlement here carbon dated at least 5000 years old. They have been wealthy and well-fed from the ocean which has allowed a vigorous artistic culture to develop. They speak of low tide as "the table being set."
To prepare for the sacred hunt, eight hunters would meditate, bath and pray together. The chief's wife would "become one with the whale" so the whale would fall in love with the hunters, come to them, not leave their side and give itself to them.
Georgia and I found a Valella Valella, or "by-the-sea-sailor" washed up on the sand. Kind of like a jelly but each a cosmopolitan genus or hybrid colony, less than 7 cm long, deep blue in color. Carnivorous.
The coastal wolves here eat seaweed, barnacles, mussels, fish. We are all adaptive creatures.
Watching through a hand magnifying glass as barnacles flick their feathery tongues in the intertidal zone. Mesmerizing.
Giant Green Sea Anenomes. Xavier and Georgia saying "Tickle tickle" as they gently touch them.
And I'm also gathering more photos for future time-travel back here...
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